I actually finished The Magician (Young Adult Fantasy 461 pages) by Michael Scott last week, but instead of writing a review on it, I moved straight to reading the next book.

I am highly addicted to this series. Though, I think these next two book reviews might get a little confused, as it might be difficult for me to remember which events happened in which book. So I strongly discourage you from reading this review if you haven’t read the first book.

One of the things I’ve noticed about these books is that each of the covers is different, with symbols that provide clues and hints as to the main focus and new characters in the story.

“California: In the hands of Dr. John Dee and the Dark Elders, the Book of Abraham the Mage could mean the destruction of the world as we know it – if Dee can get the missing pages. His only obstacle? Twins Sophie and Josh Newman.”

“Paris: After fleeing Ojai, Nicholas, Sophie, Josh, and Scatty emerge in Paris, Nicolas Flamel’s birthplace and first home. But his return might mean the city’s destruction. Immortal author Niccolo Machiavelli lives in Paris and is working with Dee in hot pursuit of the twins. Meanwhile, time is running out for Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel. They grow weaker by the day. Yet the prophecy grows even clearer. It’s time for Sophie to learn Fire Magic. The only main who can teach it to her? Flamel’s old student the Comte de Saint-Germain – alchemist, magician, and rock star. Sophie and Josh Newman are the world’s only hope. If they don’t turn on each other first.”

Again, I feel like I’m not getting as much out of this book and the story in general as I could if I knew more about mythology and legends. I feel like there would be a lot of moments where I could be excited and more impressed by just the names of the people in the story when they first encounter them, but I just don’t have that kind of background. And my time feels so limited that I don’t really know that I want to spend more time learning about everything. Regardless of the fact that I didn’t feel like I didn’t have enough of a background in legends and mythologies, the story gave enough information to clue me in with the necessary information without being an information dump.

I am also greatly enjoying the different aspects of love and how there isn’t any teenage melodrama swooning involved in this story.

The absolute best part of this story so far, for me, is that this series completely lacks any sort of romantic element. Nicholas and Perenelle have been married for hundreds of years and they are obviously in love with each other. They are fighting to save the world, but also to get back to each other. In my mind, that is absolutely love and not romance.

The other main aspect of love demonstrated in this series is the love of family. Josh and Sophie are twins, and it’s so rare for me to find books these days that shows how strong the bond between siblings can be.

Even Dee shows a love for learning, knowledge, and curiosity.

Overall, this series is definitely a four or even a five on my rating scale, which means that I am going through these books entirely too quickly, I am highly likely to read them again, and I am very happy that I purchased them.